Episode 5: Discernment in the Age of Deception

When every clip sounds anointed and every feed is full of “God told me,” how do we tell the difference between Spirit and spin? We tackle discernment with a practical, biblical roadmap designed for an age of deepfakes, algorithms, and crowd-approved theology. Evan walks through Jesus’ warnings about false prophets, why deception often wears Christian language, and how near-truths pull people off course. More than theory, we break down a simple test you can use on any sermon, song, prophecy, or movement—so you can spot counterfeits without becoming cynical.

We name the pressures that blur judgment—biblical illiteracy, experience over Scripture, and celebrity culture—and replace them with durable practices: know the word, pray for wisdom, test everything, watch for red flags, walk in holiness, and stay in wise community. You’ll learn six questions to evaluate any message: Does it align with Scripture? What fruit does it produce? Does it point to Jesus? Does it promote holiness? Does it build unity around truth? Does it match the character of God? We also expose common errors shaping the moment, from prosperity promises that turn faith into a transaction to hypergrace that erases repentance and emotionalism that mistakes goosebumps for the Holy Spirit.

This conversation is for parents guarding their homes, pastors shepherding online-savvy flocks, and believers who want a faith that can’t be gamed by charisma or clicks. You’ll leave with a 30-day challenge to test everything you consume and a renewed confidence that wisdom—sought like treasure—keeps you safe. If this helped you see more clearly, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us the first thing you’re going to test this week.

Transcript

Tempo: 120.0

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Series Closer When It's Crumbling. Episode 5, Discernment in the Age of Deception. Welcome back to the God Chaser Podcast. I'm your host, Evan Evans, and we are in week five of our series, Closer When It's Crumbling. Last week we talked about prayer, real prayer, desperate prayer, the kind that actually moves God. We talked about getting alone with Him, crying out, wrestling until you get an answer. And this week? This week we're going to talk about something that's more critical now than maybe ever before: discernment. Because here's what's happening in 2026. Everyone sounds spiritual. Every message sounds good. Every teacher quotes scripture. Every prophet claims to hear from God. Every movement looks anointed, and most of it is a lie. We're living in the age of deception, Jesus warned about. Matthew chapter 24, verse 4 to 5. Jesus told them, Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming I am the Messiah. They will deceive many. Many will come. They will deceive many. Not a few, many. So how do you know what's true? How do you test the spirits when everyone's quoting the Bible? How do you discern God's voice from the enemy's voice when both sound convincing? That's what we're going to talk about today. Because if you can't discern truth from lies, you're going to be led astray, and the stakes are too high to get this wrong. Let's go. Let me paint you a picture of what deception looks like in twenty twenty six. You're scrolling through social media, you see a video of a pastor preaching. Thousands of people are shouting, Amen. The message sounds powerful. It's got scripture in it. It feels anointed. You share it. Later you find out that pastor is living in unrepentant sin. Or preaching prosperity gospel. Or denying core doctrines of the faith, but it sounded good. Or you're in a church service. The worship is incredible. The energy is high. People are crying, hands raised, declarations being made. It feels like the Holy Spirit, but something's off. You can't put your finger on it. The message is about you being a king, about claiming your blessings, about speaking things into existence. It's close to truth, but it's not quite right. Or you're listening to a podcast. A popular Christian influencer is talking about hearing from God. They're sharing prophetic words, dreams, visions, encounters. It sounds so spiritual, so deep, so anointed, but when you actually check it against Scripture, it contradicts what God's word says. This is the age we're living in. Deception that sounds like truth. Lies wrapped in scripture, wolves dressed as shepherds. And most believers can't tell the difference. Here's why so many believers lack discernment. 1. Biblical illiteracy. Most Christians don't actually know their Bible. They know verses, they know stories, they know slogans, but they don't know the whole counsel of God. So when someone quotes one verse out of context to support a lie, they don't catch it. Not lack of passion, not lack of sincerity, lack of knowledge. 2. Experience over scripture. We've elevated feelings above truth. I felt the Spirit becomes more authoritative than the Bible says. God spoke to me becomes unquestionable, even when it contradicts Scripture. We've made experience our guide instead of making Scripture our guide. And feelings are the easiest thing to manipulate. 3. Celebrity culture. We follow personalities instead of following Scripture. If a famous preacher says it, it must be true. If someone has a million followers, they must be anointed. If a movement is popular, it must be of God. But popularity has never been a mark of truth. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, verse 13 to 14, you can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Only a few. Not the majority. A few. 4. Lack of testing. We don't test anything anymore. Someone shares a prophetic word and we just receive it. A teacher says, God told me, and we don't question it. A movement arises and we jump in without examining it. But 1 John 4, verse 1 says, Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the Spirit they have comes from God, for there are many false prophets in the world. Many false prophets. And we're commanded to test them, not just accept them, test them. Let me show you what Jesus said about the times we are living in. Matthew chapter 24, verse 4 to 5. Jesus told them, Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming I am the Messiah. They will deceive many. Many will come in my name, not in the name of Buddha, not in the name of Muhammad. In Jesus' name, they'll use Christian language, quote scripture, look anointed, sound spiritual, and they'll deceive many. Matthew chapter 24, verse 11. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Many false prophets, not a few, many. Matthew chapter 24, verse 24. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. False prophets will perform signs and wonders, miracles, healings, supernatural manifestations, and they'll deceive, if possible, even the elect, even believers who should know better. The warning about wolves. Matthew chapter 7, verse 15. Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really vicious wolves, disguised as sheep. They don't look like wolves, they look like sheep. They quote the Bible, they use Christian language, they look like one of us, but they're wolves. Acts chapter 20, verse 29 to 30. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following from your own group, not outsiders, not obvious heretics, people from inside the church. They'll distort the truth, twist scripture, lead people astray, and their goal? To draw a following, to build their platform, their brand, their empire. 2 Timothy 4, verse 3 to 4. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. People will look for teachers who tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear, what they want to hear, teachers who make them feel good, who promise blessings without sacrifice, who preach prosperity without persecution, who offer a crown without a cross, and people will chase after them. So how do you actually test what you're hearing? How do you discern truth from deception? Let me give you a biblical framework. 1. Does it align with scripture? This is the first and most important test. Isaiah chapter 8, verse 20. Look to God's instructions and teachings. People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. If it contradicts scripture, it's false. I don't care how anointed it sounds. I don't care how many miracles accompany it. I don't care how popular the teacher is. If it contradicts the Bible, it's a lie. Examples. Someone says, God told me you're going to be wealthy. Just sow a seed into this ministry. Test it. Does Jesus promise wealth to all believers? No. He actually warned about the deceitfulness of riches. Someone says, God would never send anyone to hell. He's too loving for that. Test it. Does Scripture teach hell? Yes. Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Someone says, You can live however you want. Grace covers everything. Test it. Does Scripture teach that grace gives us license to sin? No. Romans chapter 6, verse 1 to 2 says, Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not. If the message contradicts Scripture, reject it. 2. Does it produce good fruit? Matthew 7, verse 16 to 20. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Look at the fruit, not the gifts, not the charisma, not the following, the fruit. Ask, what kind of life is this teacher living? Are they humble or arrogant? Are they serving or self-promoting? Are they building the kingdom or building their brand? Do their followers look more like Jesus or more like the world? Galatians chapter 5, verse 22 to 23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If those aren't present in someone's life and ministry, they are not walking in the spirit. 3. Does it point to Jesus or to self? John chapter 16, verse 13 to 14. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. The Holy Spirit points to Jesus, not to a movement, not to a person, not to an experience, to Jesus. So when someone is constantly talking about themselves, their ministry, their revelation, their anointing, that's a red flag. When the focus is on you being a king instead of Jesus being the king, red flag. When the message is about your breakthrough instead of Jesus' sacrifice, red flag. True teachers magnify Christ. False teachers magnify themselves. 4. Does it promote holiness or license? 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 15 to 16. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the scriptures say you must be holy because I am holy. Does the message call you to holiness, or does it give you permission to stay in sin? If someone is preaching a message that lets you live however you want, without conviction, without repentance, without change, it's false. Titus. Chapter 2, verse 11 to 12. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people, and we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. Grace instructs us to turn from sin. It doesn't give us permission to stay in it. 5. Does it create division or unity? Romans chapter 16, verse 17 to 18. And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord, they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people. False teachers cause division, they split churches, they turn believers against each other, they create factions, true teachers build unity around Christ. If someone is constantly stirring up controversy, attacking other believers, creating camps, that's a warning sign. 6. Does it match the character of God? Does this message reflect who God actually is according to Scripture? Or does it present a distorted version of God? Examples. God wants everyone healthy and wealthy, distorted. God's primary concern is your holiness, not your comfort. God would never discipline his children. False. Hebrews chapter 12, verse 6 says, For the Lord disciplines those he loves. God just wants you happy, incomplete. God wants you holy. Joy comes from holiness, not from circumstances. If the God being presented doesn't match the God of Scripture, it's deception. Let me give you specific deceptions that are rampant right now. 1. Prosperity Gospel. But he never promised financial wealth to all believers. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew chapter 19, verse 24, I'll say it again. He warned about wealth. He didn't promise it. The prosperity gospel turns God into a cosmic vending machine and faith into a transaction. It's demonic. 2. Hypergrace. You can live however you want. Grace covers everything. No need for repentance. Jesus paid it all. This twists grace into license. Yes, grace is free. Yes, Jesus paid the price, but grace doesn't give you permission to keep sinning. Romans chapter 6, verse 1 to 2. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not. Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Grace transforms you. It doesn't leave you where you are. 3. Extra Biblical Revelation. God showed me a new thing. I had an encounter. The Spirit revealed. Be very careful with this. I'm not saying God doesn't speak. He does. But he will never contradict his word. If someone claims God told them something that goes against Scripture, they're lying. God doesn't contradict himself. Galatians chapter 1, verse 8. Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us, or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of good news than the one we preach to you. Even an angel? If an angel shows up and preaches something contrary to scripture, reject it. 4. The social gospel. Christianity is about social justice, about changing systems, about political activism. Listen, Christians should care about justice. We should help the poor. We should stand against oppression. But that's not the gospel. The gospel is about sin, repentance, Jesus' death and resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith. When churches preach social change as the gospel, they've lost the plot. John chapter 18, verse 36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom is not of this world. We're here to make disciples, not to make governments. Emotionalism as validation. If you feel it, it must be God. If it gave you goosebumps, it's anointed. Feelings are not a reliable guide. Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 9. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Your heart lies to you. The enemy can manufacture feelings. He can produce goosebumps. That's why you test everything against scripture, not against how it makes you feel. 6. Don't judge culture. You can't judge anyone. You can't call out false teaching. That's not loving. This is a favorite line of false teachers. They quote Matthew chapter 7, verse 1 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. But they ignore what Jesus said. Two verses later, Matthew chapter 7, verse 15. Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really vicious wolves. Jesus commanded us to beware, to identify, to call out. That requires judgment. 1 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 12. It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. It's your responsibility to judge inside the church. Not in self-righteousness, not harshly, but biblically. Law. Galatians chapter 1, verse 6 to 7. I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God who called you to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the good news, but is not the good news at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. You are being fooled. These were believers, good people, sincere people. And they got deceived because they didn't test what they were hearing against the gospel Paul preached. The Corinthian church. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. They were accepting different gospels, different Jesuses, different spirits. Why? Because they didn't test, they just accepted. Ananias and Sapphira, Acts chapter 5, verse 1 to 11. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the apostles about how much they sold their land for. They wanted to look generous while keeping some for themselves. Peter said in verse 3, Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit. Satan filled his heart. This was a believer, part of the early church, and Satan deceived him. They both dropped dead on the spot. Deception kills. How to develop discernment. So how do you actually develop discernment? Let me give you practical steps. One, know the word. You can't discern what's false if you don't know what's true. Second Timothy chapter two, verse 15. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed, and who correctly explains the word of truth. Correctly explains the word of truth. You need to know scripture, not just verses, the whole counsel of God. Read your Bible daily, study it, memorize it, meditate on it. When you know truth deeply, you'll spot lies instantly. 2. Pray for wisdom. James chapter 1, verse 5. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. Ask God for discernment. God give me eyes to see what's false, ears to hear your voice, wisdom to test what I'm hearing. He will give it to you. 3. Test everything. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 21. But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Test everything, every sermon, every prophecy, every teaching, every movement. Don't just accept it because it sounds good or feels right. Test it against Scripture. 4. Watch for red flags. If someone constantly talks about money and giving, builds a cult of personality around themselves, avoids accountability or correction, gets defensive when questioned, emphasizes experience over scripture, promises blessing without sacrifice, preaches a different gospel than what's in the Bible. Run. Proverbs 22, verse 3. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Foresee the danger, take precautions. 5. Surround yourself with discerning people. Proverbs 11, verse 14. Without wise leadership, a nation falls. There is safety in having many advisors. You need people in your life who can help you discern. People who know scripture, who aren't afraid to call out error, who will tell you when you're being deceived. Don't isolate yourself. You need community. 6. Walk in holiness. Here's something most people miss. Sin clouds discernment. When you're living in compromise, you can't discern clearly. John chapter 7, verse 17. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. If you want to do God's will, you'll be able to discern his teaching. But if you're holding on to sin, if you're compromising, if you're not walking in obedience, your discernment will be blurred. Holiness sharpens discernment. Now let me say this before you think I'm just being harsh. Discernment isn't about being critical, it's about being protective. Jesus warned us about false teachers because he loves us. He doesn't want us deceived. He doesn't want us led astray. He doesn't want us destroyed. Matthew chapter 23, verse 37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers. How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. He wants to protect you. That's why he gave us warnings, guidelines, tests. Not to make us paranoid, to make us safe. If you followed a false teacher, listened to bad doctrine, or been led astray, there's grace. You're not disqualified, you're not beyond reach. Come back to the word, come back to truth, come back to Jesus. He's not angry, he's calling you home. 2 Timothy 2, verse 25 to 26. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap, for they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. Come to your senses, escape the trap. Jesus is waiting. Why this matters now? We're living in the most deceptive time in human history. AI can fake voices, deep fakes can create videos of people saying things they never said. Misinformation spreads faster than truth. And spiritually, it's even worse. False teachers have platforms of millions. Heresy gets more views than sound doctrine. Error is celebrated while truth is called intolerant. Your kids are watching YouTube preachers you've never vetted. Your spouse is listening to podcasts that twist scripture. Your friends are following movements that look anointed but are demonic. If you don't have discernment, you or someone you love will be deceived. The next generation needs you to discern. Your kids need you to be able to identify what's true and what's false. They're growing up in a world where everything sounds spiritual. If you can't help them discern, they'll believe lies. They'll follow false teachers, they'll chase experiences instead of truth. They'll build their faith on sand, teach them to test, teach them to question, teach them to go back to Scripture. Don't just tell them what to believe, teach them how to discern. Here's what God promises to those who seek wisdom and discernment. Proverbs 2, verse 1 to 11. My child, listen to what I say and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver. Seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Understanding will keep you safe. That's the promise. When you seek discernment, God will protect you from deception. Here's my challenge to you. For the next 30 days, test everything you hear, every sermon, every worship song, every teaching, every prophecy. Ask, does this align with scripture? What fruit is this producing? Does this point to Jesus or to self? Does this promote holiness? Does this match the character of God? And if it doesn't pass the test, reject it. Even if it's popular, even if everyone else believes it, even if it came from someone you respect, test it. And if it's false, walk away. Next week we're talking about worship. Episode six. Worship when you don't feel it. Because here's the truth. Most of us only worship when we feel like it, when the music's good, when the atmosphere's right, when life is going well. But what about when God feels distant? When you're angry at him, when you don't understand what he's doing. Do you still worship then? We're going to talk about the discipline of declaring truth over feelings, of choosing to worship when your emotions betray you, of saying, God, you're still good when everything in your life says otherwise. That's the worship that changes you. So join me next week. It's time to learn how to worship in the darkness. Thanks for listening to the God Chaser Podcast. If this episode opened your eyes, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember, test everything. The stakes are too high to get this wrong. I'm never never. I'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_01 34:05

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SPEAKER_02 34:42

To Christ's glory, I'm a God, Jason. Jason left the word. Teach me here. Let me be the light in this dog.